Current Zoology

56 (4): 432436, 2010

A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from the northwestern Hunan Province, China
Xiaoyang MO, Youhui SHEN*, Honghui LI, Xiushan WU
College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China

Abstract A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae), Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp.
nov. (Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL: 38.2 mm), from Sangzhi County, Hunan Province, is described. Megophrys
tuberogranulatus is closely related to both Megophrys kuatunensis and Megophrys minor. Characters of the new species that differentiate this species from close relatives are skin granulated with big tubercles on the dorsal sides of both thigh and tibia, the
bigger inner metacarpal tubercle, upper eyelid wider than the interorbital space, hind limbs longer, overlapping of the left and
right calcaneal parts. The type specimens are deposited in the Animal Museum of Life Sciences College of Hunan Normal University [Current Zoology 56 (4): 432436, 2010].

Key words

Zootaxy, Megophryidae, Megophrys, New species, China

Kuhl and van Hasselt (1822) established Megophrys

based on the type species of Megophrys montana (Liu,
1950). Rao and Yang (1997) reported another new
genusPanophrys based on the type species of Megophrys omeimontic, but it also included some species of
Megophrys and Megophrys parva. However, Dubois
and Ohler (1998) considered that Panophrys as a synonym of Xenophrys Gunther (1864) which was classified
as a subgenus of Megophrys. Recently, Ohler (2003)
and Dubois (2007) upgraded the Xenophrys subgenus to
a level of genus. Li and Wang (2008) considered that
both Xenophrys and Megophrys were effective and
suggested that the Chinese species which were considered as Megophrys originally should be proposed as
Xenophrys. In this study, we adopted the concept of
Megophrys including all the domestic horn toads as well
as species of Xenophrys, which are widely accepted by
scholars in China (Liu, 1950; Liu and Hu, 1961; Tian
and Jiang, 1986; Fei, 1999; Fei et al., 1990, 2005, 2009;
Shen, 1994; Ye et al., 1993; Xie and Wang, 2000; Zhao
and Adler, 1993).
During collecting trips to Nature Reserves of Tianpingshan, Simenyan and Tianzishan, Sangzhi County,
Hunan Provinces in 1988 (between June and August)
and 2003 (August), we collected specimens of Megophrys which could not be assigned to any known species.
Moreover, the specimens exhibited a series of characteristics such as snout shield-like projecting beyond the
Received Jan. 05, 2010; accepted Feb 12, 2010
Corresponding author. E-mail: bioyhs@163.com
2010 Current Zoology

lower jaw, canthus rostralis distinct, tiny teeth in upper

jaw, vertical pupils that differ from other Chinese species of Megophrys. After consultation with colleagues at
the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB), we concluded
that the unidentified toad represents a previously unrecognized species.

Materials and Methods

1.1 Specimens
Ten specimens (9 , 1 ) were obtained from Tianpingshan Mountain of Badagongshan Nature Reserve
and Tianzishan Mountain Nature Reserve located in
Sangzhi County in the northwestern part of Hunan
Province in April, July and August 1988 and August
2003. The type specimens are deposited in the Animal
Museum of Life Sciences College of Hunan Normal
University (HNUL).
1.2 Comparative materials
The comparative materials include the specimens of
Megophrys minor Stejneger 1926 (n = 12) and Megophrys kuatunensis Pope 1929 specimens (n = 10). The
former are from Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province,
and the latter are from Jianyang, Guadong and Chongan
in Fujian Province. All specimens are now deposited in
Chengdu Institute of Biology. The numbers for the
specimens of Megophrys minor are CIB 89963, 89964,
89965, 89966, 89967, 89968, 89969, 89970, 89973,
89974, 89975 and 89976. The numbers for the speci-

X.Y. MO: A new amphibian species

mens of Megophrys kuatunensis are CIB 6412135,

6412137, 6412138, 6412300, 6411299, 6414025,
6414026, 6413345, 6413547 and 6413547.
1.3 Statistical analysis
The snout-vent length (SVL), interorbital space (IOS),
width of upper eyelid (UEW), diameter of eye (ED),
diameter of tympanum (TD), space of tympanum and
eye (STE), hindlimb length (HLL) and tibia length (TL)
of the type specimens and comparative materials were
measured using vernier caliper. The SPSS program
(version12.0) was used to perform the regular tests.
One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to
compare the mean differences in the three groups, and
the least significance difference (L.S.D.) test was used
for multiple comparison. The significance level was set
at P = 0.05.

2 Results and Conclusions

Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp. nov.
2.1 Type specimen
Holotype (Fig. 1, Fig. 2)
HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL:38.2 mm.
Tianzishan Nature Reserve, Sangzhi County, Hunan
Province (2920-2950N, 11020-11030E), elevation
1130 m, collected in August 9, 1988 by Youhui Shen.

Fig. 1

433

Allotype HNUL 880800853, adult female, SVL:

50.5 mm
Simenyan, Badagongshan Nature Reserve, Sangzhi
County, Hunan Province, elevation 1130m, (20202950N, 10950-11030), collected in August 1988 by
Youhui Shen.
Paratype HNUL 03080904, 880800851, 880800852,
880700751, 880700752, 880700753.
Tianzishan Nature Reserve, Sangzhi County, Hunan
Province (2920-2950N, 11020-11030E); elevation
1123 m for Qinjiayan, 1088 m for Huziya, 1076 m for
Tianchi; collected in July and August 1988 and by Youhui Shen.
HNUL 88062801, 88062802; Simenyan, Tianpinshan,
Sangzhi County, (2920-2950N, 10950-11030E),
collected in July and August 1988 and by Youhui Shen
Etymology The new speciess skin is granulated
with tubercles, especially big tubercles on the dorsal
sides of thighs and tibias, so it is named Megophrys
tuberogranulatus sp. nov.
2.2 Diagnosis (Fig.1, Fig. 2)
Snout shield-like, projecting beyond the lower jaw,
canthus rostralis distinct, tiny teeth in the upper jaw,
vertical pupils distinguish Megophrys from other genera
of Megophryidae. The smaller body size, tympanum

Biological picture of Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp. nov.

Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, Sangzhi, Hunan, China.

a. Lateral view. b. Dorsal view. c. Left hand and left foot ventral view. d. Ventral view.

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No. 4

calcaneal parts are similar to those of Megophrys minor

but different from Megophrys kuatunensis.

3 Description of type species (Fig.1,

Fig. 2)

Fig. 2 Photos of Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp.

nov. (Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL: 38.2)

distinct, no vomerine teeth, single internal subgular vocal sac, no membranous edge of toes, slight rudiment of
web at toes base are similar to those of Megophrys kuatunensis and Megophrys minor. The basic measurements
of three species, Megophrys tuberogranulatus, Megophrys minor and Megophrys kuatumensis, are shown in
Table 1 and Table 2. The results of one-way ANOVA
show that all measurement differences are significant (P
< 0.001). Multiple comparison indicates differences for
measurements SVL, TD, STE and HLL between Megophrys minor and Megophrys tuberogranulatus are not
significant, however, the differences for other measurements IOS, UEW, ED and TL are significant. All the
measurements differences between Megophrys tuberogranulatus and Megophrys kuatumensis are significant.
2.3 Dorsal skin granulated with tubercles forming a
linear pattern along folds; big tubercles in the black
transverse stripes on the dorsal side of thighs, and scattered granules between big tubercles; distinct tubercles
along the underside of the digits distinguish Megophrys
tuberogranulatus from both Megophrys kuatunensis and
Megophrys minor. Although Megophrys palpebralespinosa also has skin that is granulated, presence of
many big granules on the upper eyelid and some extending outside in spine shape, well-developed membranous edges and web at toes base distinguish Megophrys tuberogranulatus from Megophrys palpebralespinosa.
2.4 Big internal metacarpal tubercles (but not presenting ball-like projections), and the width of upper eyelid
greater than interorbital space are similar to those of
Megophrys kuatunensis but different from Megophrys
minor.
2.5 The bigger body size (37.16 2.17 mm) , the
longer hind limbs, and overlapping of the left and right

3.1 Body size and description of the head

The new species is of small body size, moderately
slender. The males SVL is 37.16 2.17 (33.2 39.6)
mm and the female, 50.5 mm (Table 1). The head is
slightly flattened, nearly equal in length and width.
Snout short and shield-like, projecting beyond the lower
jaw, canthus rostralis distinct and loreal region concave.
Nostrils halfway between eye and snout, not distinguishable from the dorsal view. Interorbital space is less
than the width of the upper eyelid. Tympana large,
round or elliptical, about one half of eye diameter. With
fine teeth in the upper jaw, and no vomerine teeth.
Tongue round, thick and in ping-pang bat shape, and not
notched behind.
3.2 Description of limbs
Fore limbs are slender with the forearm longer than
the humerus. The tips of the slender fingers are slightly
dilated. The third finger is the longest, with the first and
fourth almost of the same in length, and the second the
shortest. No obvious subarticular tubercles, and the finger bases are swollen in long spine shape with base tubercles. Two metacarpal tubercles are oval in shape, of
which the outer is the smaller. Hind limbs are slightly
stronger and shorter. The HLL of the male is about
156.3 percent of the SVL while for the female, 145.4
percent (Table 1). Tibia longer than thigh, and the TL of
the male is about 50.8 percent of the SVL while for the
females, 45.2 percent (Table 1). The left and right calcaneal parts overlap. Toes slender, no subarticular tubercle, the inner metatarsus tubercle in oval shape and
the outer metatarsus tubercle flattened, with a slight
rudiment of web at base, and the toe tips dilated in ball
shape. The descending order in terms of digit length is 4,
3, 5, 2, 1 (Fig. 1 C).
3.3

Skin

The skin is granulated with faint folds and tubercles.

There is an interocular fold along with the posterior part
of the upper eyelids formed a small triangle mark; two
or three transverse fine folds are at the middle of upper
eyelid, of which the outside of the anterior one projects
in angle shape; the distinct temporal fold is comparatively slender at its anterior part and becomes bigger
after it bends downward; at the mid-dorsal side of the
body, a distinct fold in X shape extends forward to the

X.Y. MO: A new amphibian species

Table 1

435

Measurements of adults of Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp. nov. (Sangzhi, Hunan)

Measurements

Holotype HNUL 03080902

Length

Snout-vent length

38.2

Head length

13.3

Head width
Snout length

Ratio

Allotype HNUL 880800853

Length
50.5

Ratio

33.239.6

12.8 0.4

12.1 13.3

34.5 %

15.6

30.9 %

12.6 0.5

11.513.0

33.9 %

6.5

12.9 %

4.6 0.9

4.34.9

12.8 %

11.0 %

5.4

10.7 %

4.3 0.2

4.04.4

11.5 %

8.6 %

4.3

8.5 %

3.3 0.2

3.03.5

8.9 %

4.5

11.8 %

4.7

9.3 %

3.8 0.2

3.64.2

10.4 %

6.4

16.8 %

7.2

19.5 %

5.3 0.3

5.05.6

14.4 %

3.2

8.4 %

3.8

7.3 %

2.5 0.2

2.12.7

6.8 %

18.4

48.2 %

22.2

44.0 %

17.6 1.1

15.719

47.5 %

13.6

35.6 %

5.3

13.9 %

Internasal space

4.2

Interorbital space

3.3

Width of upper eyelid

Diameter of eye
Diameter of tympanum

Hand length

Range

37.1 2.2

14.8

Diamerter of lower arm

Mean SD

29.3 %

34.8 %

Length of lower arm and hand

Ratio

Paratype (n = 8)

3.4

8.9 %

3.9

7.7 %

3.6 0.4

3.14.4

9.7 %

10.2

26.7 %

12.7

25.2 %

9.4 0.6

8.510.6

25.5 %

Hindlamb length

59.7

156.3 %

73.4

145.4 %

52.9 4.8

43.561.3

142.7 %

Tibia length

19.4

50.8 %

22.8

45.2 %

16.9 1.7

13.519.4

45.6 %

Tibia width

4.3

11.3 %

5.8

11.5 %

4.4 0.4

3.85.0

11.9 %

Length of foot and tarsus

27.0

70.7 %

33.5

66.3 %

25.0 2.3

21.328.8

67.5 %

Foot length

18.6

48.7 %

21.5

42.6 %

15.9 1.5

13.717.5

42.9 %

Note: The ratio is each measurement (mm) to Snout-vent length.

temporal regions and backward to the groin region; two

longitudinal faint folds are at the dorsolateral sides. The
dorsum of the head is flattened with scattered small tubercles; the lower and the upper lips are smooth, and
small granules are evident between eye and tympanum;
bigger tubercles present on the sides and posterior part
of the body, especially with three or four big tubercles
on the dorsal sides of thighs and four or five big tubercles in the black transverse stripes on the dorsal sides of
tibias; the tubercles at sides of vent and around are more
and bigger; the belly is smooth while tubercles present
on the ventral sides of thighs. Two small, round and
white glands are at thoracic sides; the oval femoral
glands are distinct at the midpoint of the hind sides of
thighs.
3.4 Coloration in life
The color on the back is dark or yellow brown with
black brown or black bars or spots (Fig. 2). There is a
black connecting-bar between eyes, big black bars
(thick or thin) in X shape on the mid-dorsal region of
the body, some smaller X bars (or none) between the
eyes connecting bar and the mid-dorsal X bar, and
irregular black spots on the sides of the body. Bars are
usually accompanied with folds and tubercles, in particular big tubercles scattered at the transverse bars on
the dorsal sides of four limbs, which distinguish Megophrys tuberogranulatus from the other species. Scarlet
marks are very noticeable at groin region and thigh
sides. After preservation with formalin, the scarlet

marks become indistinct or disappeared. There are longitudinal black bars and small white spots mixing on
upper and lower jaws, and black brown spots on dark
gray ground from lower jaw to sternum region. The
belly is gray with irregular round spots. The ventral
sides of the digits are gray with various transverse oval
bars. The digital tips are dark gray.
3.5 Secondary sex characteristics
Males are smaller. The nuptial pads of the male on
the inner dorsal sides of the first finger base and the
palms are in oblong oval shape, and the nuptial pad on
the inner dorsal sides of the second finger base is
smaller and in oval shape. Black nuptial spines are obvious under microscope. Single internal subgular vocal
sac with smaller opening, which situates between
tongue and mouth angle.

4 Ecological habit
Megophrys tuberogranulatus likes living at moist and
dripping places and inhabiting beside mountain streams,
under rocks or underbrush, which are not easy to be
found. During June to August, the male will be croaking
jia, jia, jia monosyllabically in their habitats.

5 Distribution
Megophrys tuberogranulatus is found in the scrub
and frost region of Wuling Mountain area above 1000 m
altitude. The specimens were collected in Tianpingshan
Mountain of Badagongshan Nature Reserve and

436

Current Zoology

Simenyan Mountain of Tianzishan Mountain Nature

Reserve located in Sangzhi County, Hunan Province,
China.
In conclusion, the species in this study presents a series of characteristics of Megophrys, but some features
are different significantly from known species of Megophrys such as Megophrys minor and Megophrys kuatunensis. It was identified as a new species.
Acknowledgements We thank Professor Liang Fei, Professor Chang-Yuan Ye and Professor Jian-Pin Jiang of Chengdu
Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Science for their
cooperation on specimen identification. We thank Yan Wang
for measuring specimens of Megophrys minor and Megophrys
kuatunensis, and Dan Chen for drawing Megophrys tuberogranulatus. We also thank Dr. Darrel Frost of American Museum of Natural History for his helpful suggestions on manuscript modifications and language polishing of the paper. We
are grateful to staff of Badagongshan Nature Reserve and
Tianzishan Mountain Nature Reserve for their assistance in the
field. The study was partially supported by Grants from the
National Science Foundation of China (30771170, 30971105) ,
a General Grant from China Postdoctoral Foundation
(20060400260), a Special Grant from China Postdoctoral
Foundation, and Science and Technology Grants from Hunan
Province (2008RS4011, 2008NK3108, 2009NK4036).

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